- Joined
- Oct 2, 2009
- Messages
- 262
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Oscroft Cheshire
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 9 at present
Simple question from a newbie, whats the best way to build up a small, say three frame colony?
Cheers
Dave W
Cheers
Dave W
I am a supporter of the "big wing" theory (Leigh Mallory, Ha Ha,) and would suggest that giving an extra frame of brood or two to a small colony, could usefully be supplemented by a new queen in the spring to support a good laying rate. Otherwise it might degenerate into a "small colony" again.
'Large colonies' is a theory I intend to follow next year, which is why I have stayed with 14x12 frames so far, but the bees do take a long time to gain colony size on their own ]if the queen is not prolific.
I am a supporter of the "big wing" theory (Leigh Mallory, Ha Ha,)
Having obtained a bigger colony that way, it is necessary for the queen to become a prolific layer so as to maintain the colony size, otherwise the death-rate is higher than the birth-rate and the colony dwindles rapidly, losing effective foraging force.
Not all queens are prolific layers. So it is necessary to check that the queen is laying enough. If not she must be replaced before the colony size dwindles again.
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Beginners do a big mistake when they split their hives in spring. But they are so nervous to get new hives than no one can help them. And others even encourage to rear their own queens.
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I'm not so keen on it and I've always felt that Air Vice Marshall Park never got full recognition for his services....
Finman said:After long winter many queen have got nosema with its hive and they will never bee the same as last summer.
I have every year nosema hives. They are not able to rear brood in early spring and do not eat pollen patty. They digestion system is ruined.
Fumidil-B and a Bailey comb change...
Have you tried any treatment ? ........... Fumidil ? ..... or Thymol ? ......
What test do you use ? .........
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